How is the best basketball player of all time

Top 10 NBA players of all time in NBA History

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Everywhere in the NBA community, the question of the best basketball players of all time is always a hot topic. Recently, Scott Fujita‘s expert team has the answer. In this article, we will mention the top 10 NBA players of all time.

According to figures from ESPN, Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time. Besides, there are also many other excellent basketball players.

Let’s go to the details in the below section!

Basketball legends in NBA history 

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Many disputes broke out about the greatest NBA players of all time. However, we have researched many official information sources and come up with the following rankings:

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Who is the best basketball player of all time? Michael Jordan is the best in the top 10 basketball players of all time.

Team: Chicago Bulls (1984-1993, 1995-1998) and Washington Wizards (2001-2003).

Michael Jordan is the man who led the Chicago Bulls to 6 series of NBA Finals. Michael Jordan was a 6-time NBA champion. He also “carried” 6-time Finals MVP awards. Michael Jordan also gained the Defensive Player of the Year in 1988. 

View more about Michael Jordan – The highest vertical jump nba

In addition, during the regular season, “Mr. Air” has five more MVP awards, and he deserves to be an icon both on and off the basketball court. Jordan averaged 20 points per game in 2-year Washington’s jersey.

Besides impressive titles and achievements, the leader of best NBA players of all time is also a model of competitive spirit. He excelled in attack and was passionate in defense. Whether training or competing, Michael Jordan does his best to help himself and his teammates reach the top.

Thanks to the above achievement, Michael Jordan has become a measure of success in NBA history. Every NBA player wants to become like Michael Jordan. But so far, no one has passed the level of MJ.

Michael Jordan is the best in the top 10 basketball players of all time

LeBron James is one of the best players in NBA history.

Lebron James has won 2 NBA Championship rings and an NBA Finals MVP award. Both times played for the Miami Heat team in 2012 and 2013. LeBron is one of the most leading NBA players in basketball history, with his ability to score goals is undeniable.

From the very beginning, Lebron James stunned fans and encouraged everyone to follow their dreams. Lebron James helped both the Heat and the Cavaliers to win several championships. LeBron James is often “compared” to Michael Jordan – the greatest basketball player ever.

In addition to his wealth and ability to play football, Lebron James is also active in charity activities. It has made James one of the legendary basketball players in NBA history, both on and off the court.

LeBron James is in the Los Angeles Lakers’ jersey

Lebron James is the 3rd outstanding NBA player in NBA history.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is one of the top scorers in NBA history. He was never absent from the NBA Playoffs Top 10 Scorers list.

With Milwaukee and Los Angeles, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar played 17 games in his 20-season career. He won 6-time champion and 2 NBA Finals MVP awards and for 13 years. He also gained a 10-time All-NBA First Team.

Jabbar scored 5,762 points in history. His best game was in 1974, still against the Bucks. At that time, he scored 515 points after 16 games. Abdul-Jabbar was also the defensive player who led the playoffs in rebounds and blocks

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 

Magic Johnson is one of the greatest basketball point guards in NBA history. The point guard was a vital element of the illustrious “Showtime” generation that helped the Los Angeles Lakers dominate the NBA in the ’80s.

Magic Johnson is the most precise definition for the concept of “talent does not wait for age.” He immediately rose to stardom in his first season in the NBA.

The NBA star has enjoyed countless career successes with the 5-time champion, 3 season MVP awards, and 3 Finals MVP titles. The Hall of Famer averaged 19.5 points in a game, 11. 2 assists, and 7.2 rebounds in 906 games over 13 seasons in his entire career.

Magic Johnson 

Kobe Bryant is an outstanding NBA player in league history. He seized the top 5 NBA players of all time.

Kobe Bryant played 17 postseasons of his 19 seasons in the NBA, all with the Los Angeles Lakers. He scored 5,640 points in 220 playoffs. Kobe Bryant won a five-time scoring champion with Los Angeles and two NBA Finals MVP awards in 2009 and 2010.

In 2009, Bryant had the best playoff in points with 695 points, leading the playoffs in points. Over his entire career, he averaged 25.6 points per game. 

On May 4, 2006, Bryant had his best playoff game yet. At that time, he scored 50 points after only 52 minutes of play in Game 6.

Kobe Bryant 

One of the other best NBA players of all time is Shaquille O’Neal in NBA history.

Shaq O’Neal is the most formidable basketball player NBA history has ever produced. Possessing a height of 2.16 m and a weight of 147 kg, O’Neal dominated the area under the basketball when he was still playing.

The Orlando Magic picked O’Neal in first place in the 1992 NBA Draft. In his rookie season, O’Neal immediately rose to stardom with an average of 23.4 points and 13.9 rebounds per game. He received the title of Rookie of the Year in 1993. He was the first rookie to appear in the All-Star after Michael Jordan did the same in 1985.

The peak of O’Neal’s career was playing at the Los Angeles Lakers with the late Kobe Bryant. The Hall of Fame center was a critical factor in helping the Los Angeles Lakers win three consecutive NBA championships in 2000, 2001, and 2002. Shaq O’Neal is also the owner of the league MVP title in all 3 NBA championships.

Larry Bird led the Boston Celtics to three NBA championships and two NBA Finals MVP titles. He was “picked” to the 6th overall draft to the Boston Celtics in 1978. 

Many fans have regarded him as the greatest Celtics of all time. Bird defended the three-point shooting title at the All-Star game in 1986.

Larry Bird played with two other basketball legends, Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson, in the “Dream Team” of the 1992 Olympics. Bird and Magic Johnson took home the gold medal for the United States.

Wilt Chamberlain is the basketball player who paved the way for the development of today’s NBA stars. He didn’t have many opportunities to show off during college.

But Wilt Chamberlain was an essential piece of the infamous Harlem Globetrotters for a year before starting his NBA career.

With an ideal height of 2.1 meters, Wilt Chamberlain dominated the NBA during its peak.

He marked his place in history as the only player to score 100 points per game. He is also the first person to reach 30,000 points in the NBA.

With this result, can anyone say that Wilt Chamberlain is not a basketball legend?

Bill Russell was the foundation of the Boston Celtics’ reign in the ’60s. He was an uncanny blocker. The defensive player is also the one who revolutionized the NBA defensive competition.

Bill Russell has 5-time MVP awards and 12 times All-Star. The point is that throughout his career, he has accumulated 21,620 rebounds. The average is about 22.5 rebounds in a game.

Russell has one-on-one duels that make the opponent very difficult. That is also the key to helping the Boston Celtics win.

The teams that met Bill Russell were all worried that the throw would be “blocked.” That is how Bill Russell’s quick counter-attack strategy helped the team win.

The Boston Celtics’ number 6 jersey is a terrifying obsession for teams when attacking. The reason is that Russell will reduce the 90% chance of scoring to only 50%.

Tim Duncan experienced 19 NBA seasons with the San Antonio Spurs.

He brought home 5 NBA championships and All-Defensive team selections. More than that, Tim Duncan is also one of only five players in NBA history to earn more than 25,000 points and 15,000 rebounds.

Duncan is one of the highest-paid players in NBA history. Is it worth overpaying for Tim Duncan? The answer is absolutely worth it. He has made specific contributions to the San Antonio Spurs.

The power forward has had a significant impact on the NBA and world basketball in general. Let’s check out Tim Duncan’s memorable performances in this video.

The top 10 basketball players of all time list is relatively narrow to list all the great NBA players in history. You can search for others here:

11. Oscar Robertson.
12. Hakeem Olajuwon.
13. Kevin Durant.
14. Kevin Garnett.
15. Steph Curry.
16. Charles Barkley. 
17. Charles Barkley. 
18. Jerry West.
19. Karl Malone.
20. Julius Erving.
21. David Robinson.
22. Elgin Baylor.
23. Moses Malone.
24. Scottie Pippen.
25. Dwyane Wade.
26. Giannis Antetokounmpo.
27. Kawhi Leonard.
28. Isiah Thomas.
29. John Stockton.
30. Allen Iverson.

Above are the top 10 greatest basketball players of all time. The new generation is trying to establish outstanding achievements with each game. Nevertheless, we will never forget one of the most admired basketball legends in the world.

Ranking the top 74 NBA players of all time

play

Flashback: Larry Bird sets Boston record with 60-point performance (1:37)

On March 12, 1985, Larry Bird put on a shooting clinic for the ages, scoring a Celtics-record 60 points in a game against the Atlanta Hawks. (1:37)

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May 13, 2020

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LeBron James or Michael Jordan? Bill Russell or Wilt Chamberlain? Stephen Curry or Kevin Durant? Old school or new school?

These debates rage on endlessly in every corner of NBA fandom, and our experts have done their best to answer them, ranking the greatest players in the league's 74-year history.

ESPN's NBA expert panel voted on thousands of head-to-head matchups, taking into consideration both total career value and peak performance.

Being in the conversation as the best player of all time means being part of an exclusive club -- no disrespect to those who just missed out on the top 10. The list of 10 through 1 crowns the exceptional performers who have their own cases to be the greatest ever.

All-time NBArank: Nos. 74-41 | Nos. 40-11 | 5-on-5 debate

• 1992-96 Orlando Magic; 1996-2004 Los Angeles Lakers; 2004-08 Miami Heat; 2008-09 Phoenix Suns; 2009-10 Cleveland Cavaliers; 2010-11 Boston Celtics

• 23.7 PPG, 10.9 RPG, 2.3 BPG

The Hall of Fame center transformed the game with a combination of agility and explosiveness and size, the likes of which the league had never seen. A four-time NBA champion and three-time Finals MVP, O'Neal averaged a double-double during a career that spanned almost two decades. O'Neal became an All-Star 15 times and earned the 1999-2000 MVP award. The fun-loving big man used his outsize personality to become a global pitchman and analyst after retiring.
-- Nick Friedell

• 1996-2016 Los Angeles Lakers

• 25.0 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 4.7 APG, 1.4 SPG, 1.4 3s PG

For all of his statistical achievements -- the five championships, the 81-point game, the 60-point finale, the league MVP in 2008, the 20 seasons all with the same franchise -- Bryant's lasting legacy is his mental edge and burning desire to master the sport. "Mamba mentality" became more than a kitschy catchphrase after Bryant died; it is now a blueprint for how to chase your dreams. He'll forever be on the short list of players you'd want to take the last shot with the game on the line.
-- Dave McMenamin

• 1997-2016 San Antonio Spurs

• 19.0 PPG, 10.8 RPG, 3.0 APG, 2.2 BPG

Perhaps the only perceived knock on Duncan's game was that he was boring. He was known as "The Big Fundamental," dominating for nearly two decades on both ends of the floor with textbook simplicity, such as his midrange bank shot and perfect position defense. More than anything, Duncan was one of the best winners, leading the Spurs to five titles and 1,001 regular-season victories, the most for any player with one team in NBA history.
-- Tim MacMahon

• 1979-92 Boston Celtics

• 24.3 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 6.3 APG, 1.7 SPG

Bird and Magic Johnson revitalized the NBA -- and the Celtics-Lakers rivalry. Bird led Boston to five NBA Finals and three championships with a blend of shot-making, passing and his feel for the game. He was the league MVP in three consecutive seasons (1984-86), something only Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell had accomplished. Until LeBron James came along, Bird was hailed as the best small forward ever.
-- Tim Bontemps

1:37

On March 12, 1985, Larry Bird put on a shooting clinic for the ages, scoring a Celtics-record 60 points in a game against the Atlanta Hawks.

• 1959-62 Philadelphia Warriors, 1962-65 San Francisco Warriors; 1965-68 Philadelphia 76ers; 1968-73 Los Angeles Lakers

• 30.1 PPG, 22.9 RPG, 4.4 APG

Chamberlain was truly ahead of his time. His numbers -- including scoring an NBA-record 100 points in a single game and averaging 50 points per game for an entire season -- are mythical. The only reason he doesn't rank higher on lists of the all-time greats is he won "only" two NBA championships.
-- Bontemps

• 1979-91, 1996 Los Angeles Lakers

• 19.5 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 11.2 APG, 1.9 SPG

Johnson revolutionized the game, entering the league as the tallest point guard in league history at 6-foot-9. He was a legendary winner, a transcendent passer, an instant highlight and a triple-double waiting to happen. Without Johnson and his rivalry for the ages with Bird and the Celtics, the NBA may not be where it is today. The charismatic Johnson took the "Showtime" Lakers to nine NBA Finals, and they won five titles. His fast breaks and no-look passes catapulted the NBA from an era when Finals games weren't televised live to the global game it is today.
-- Ohm Youngmisuk

• 1956-69 Boston Celtics

• 15.1 PPG, 22.5 RPG, 4.3 APG

The greatest winner in basketball history, Russell claimed 11 titles in 13 years by turning the Celtics into a defensive juggernaut. Russell's defensive acumen and determination made him the perfect foil for Wilt Chamberlain, as well as one of the players from his era who wouldn't have looked out of place in later generations. Those qualities also helped him earn five MVP awards and 11 All-NBA selections.
-- Bontemps

• 1969-75 Milwaukee Bucks; 1975-89 Los Angeles Lakers

• 24.6 PPG, 11.2 RPG, 3.6 APG

No one in NBA history can match Abdul-Jabbar's lengthy list of achievements. He won a record six MVP awards and was a 19-time All-Star. He won six championships -- with the first and last coming 17 years apart -- and was named to 15 All-NBA teams, with 10 first-team selections. His unstoppable skyhook allowed him to score more points than anyone in league history, and while he wasn't flashy, there has arguably never been anyone better.
-- Bontemps

• 2003-10, 2014-18 Cleveland Cavaliers; 2010-14 Miami Heat; 2018-20 Los Angeles Lakers

• 27.1 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 7.4 APG, 1.6 SPG

Standing 6-9 and weighing north of 250 pounds with a 40-inch vertical, James' game is built on power, but his passing ability might be his strongest skill. The four-time MVP and three-time champion has reinvented how an athlete's prime should be viewed; he had the Lakers in the thick of a title hunt as a 35-year-old playing in his 17th season. His chase-down block in Game 7 of the 2016 Finals to help complete a 3-1 comeback against a Warriors team that won 73 games will forever encapsulate his will to win.
-- McMenamin

• 1984-93, 1995-98 Chicago Bulls; 2001-03 Washington Wizards

• 30.1 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 5.3 APG, 2.3 SPG

The greatest player of all time. Jordan led the Bulls to six NBA championships, winning six Finals MVP awards and five regular-season MVP honors while becoming a global icon on and off the floor. Jordan's brilliance on both ends of the court defined a generation of basketball and set a new standard for players following in his footsteps. His game transcended the sport.
-- Friedell

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The best basketball player in the world

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• Michael Jordan

  Basketball player

  Average 30.1 points per game

  American NBA professional basketball player who played shooting guard in the 80s and 90s. The most famous basketball player in the world, who made a huge contribution to the popularization of this sport.

  The school initially refused to accept Michael into the school's basketball team due to his lack of height and strength. Michael constantly played baseball and basketball in the yard with his father and brothers and trained to get on the team for sure next year. The goal was achieved, and little Jordan quickly became the leader of the team.

  Success continued in the university NCAA, and 2 years later, Michael decided on the NBA draft. He got into the Chicago Bulls team, where he gained worldwide fame. Before his debut in the NBA, Jordan managed to become an Olympic champion.

  Michael spent 9 years with the Chicago Bulls, then left the team due to the death of his father, trying to make a career in baseball. Realizing that this was not at all, he returned to the club in 1995 and played in it until 1998, again leaving the big sport. In 2001, Michael got into the Washington Wizard club, after which in 2003 he ended his career completely.

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The best basketball players in history - Sportmaster Media Internet portal

This is a material about the greatest players in the history of basketball. We also have a text about the basic rules of the game.

Basketball in its modern form is already over 130 years old, and the best tournament on the planet — the championship of the National Basketball Association — turned 75 years old in 2021. During this time, dozens and hundreds of outstanding athletes have taken part in the most prestigious sports competition. We collected seven of the greatest basketball players who ever took to the floor.

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1979-92 Boston Celtics

3 NBA championships

Boston legends are many NBA Hall of Famers, but even among them Larry Bird holds a special place. The three-time league champion picked up three consecutive MVP awards in the mid-80s, and his duels with Magic Johnson breathed new life into the rivalry between the Celtics and the Lakers. Byrd's versatility and attacking skill is a guarantee of getting into any tops of basketball legends.

1956-69Boston Celtics

11 NBA championships

Russell is one of the league's greatest defensemen. Bill has five MVP awards on his trophy shelf, won three in a row from 1960 to 1962, and in 2009, the Finals Series MVP award was renamed in his honor. Russell's individual achievements pale in comparison to his team achievements - he became a record 11 NBA champion with Boston.

1959-62 Philadelphia Warriors; 1962-65 San Francisco Warriors; 1965-68 Philadelphia 76ers; 1968-73 Los Angeles Lakers

2 NBA Championships

Very few players hold records that will most likely never be broken. Chamberlain is one of them. Against the Knicks in March 1962, Wilt scored a mind-blowing 100 points and scored six of the 11 highest-scoring individual performances in league history.

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1979-91, 1996 Los Angeles Lakers

5 NBA Championships

The arrival of the Laker Magic in 1979 ushered in yet another golden era in history with the Lakers. Johnson helped the team win a championship as a rookie, and then won four more titles for the Los Angeles club. Johnson took home the Regular Season and Finals MVP awards three times each.

1969-75 Milwaukee Bucks; 1975-89 Los Angeles Lakers

6 NBA championships

Before Michael Jordan and LeBron, Kareem ruled basketball. With six championships, six regular season MVPs, two Finals MVPs and 38,387 career points, Abdul-Jabbar still holds the all-time scoring record with his resume standing the test of time. His skyhook did not spare anyone - see for yourself.

2003-10, 2014-18 Cleveland Cavaliers; 2010-14 Miami Heat; 2018-present Los Angeles Lakers

4 NBA Championships

LeBron James is synonymous with greatness. From the first appearance on the court and up to the present moment, he has done nothing but meet the huge expectations of basketball fans around the world. Only 1,300 points separate him from Abdul-Jabbar's scoring record, and LeBron is not going to stop.

He has two wins at the Olympics, four championship titles, four awards for the most valuable player of the regular season and the final series. All-Star games have been around without James since 2005, and it's impossible to imagine modern sport without him. There is only one basketball player to whom he (so far) is inferior in the size of the legacy.

1984-93, 1995-98 Chicago Bulls; 2001-03 Washington Wizards

6 NBA Championships

Jordan is universally acknowledged as the greatest basketball player of all time. Not only has he changed the game in so many different ways, but he has become a global brand on and off the court, primarily due to the cosmic level of the game.

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